What Your Hair Color Says About Your Health

As reported in Women's Health magazine, and re-reported on the Today show last week, there are surprisingly specific health implications for blondes, brunettes and redheads. No matter the time we spend modifying our hair color, experts advise us to use our natural color as a health barometer. The story goes like this:

If you're a blonde: My eyes! Fair-haired gals are especially prone to age-related macular degeneration, an eye condition that can cause blindness, warns Svetlana Kogan, M.D., founder of Doctors at Trump Place in New York City. Rx? The compounds lutein and zeaxanthin, found in kale, spinach, and snow peas.

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If you're a redhead: Be weary of Parkinsons. According to the article, "a recent Harvard study found that redheads have an almost 90 percent greater chance of developing the disease." To fend off, Margaret Lewin, M.D., medical director of Cinergy Health, advises taking 400 micrograms of folic acid a day.

If you're a brunette: Not my hair! According to Women's Health, more than fifty percent of the 30 million American women with hair loss have brown hair. "Brown tresses are generally coarser and thicker than blonde or red strands, and your body produces fewer of them," Joel Schlessinger, M.D., president emeritus of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, says. Since low iron can contribute to hair loss, experts recommend buffing up your intake.